Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Recommended for Tanabata party! Fun and exciting performance/activity ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

In the lead-up to Tanabata on July 7, nursery schools and kindergartens decorate bamboo branches and hold Tanabata gatherings together.

For those wondering, “What kind of performance should we do for this year’s Tanabata event?”, here are a variety of ideas! From songs and picture books to paper puppet shows, black theater, and even a planetarium, there are many special activities that children will enjoy.

Use these suggestions for your program, and have a wonderful Tanabata that both children and adults can enjoy.

[Childcare] Recommended for Tanabata parties! Fun, crowd-pleasing performance ideas (11–20)

July fingerplay “Tanabata”

[Hand Play in July] Enjoy Tanabata with children's songs♪

July fingerplay “Tanabata”

A fun summer event, the Tanabata Festival.

People tie paper strips with their wishes to bamboo leaves and decorate them beautifully.

The Tanabata festival, where you can enjoy the stars in the night sky, is surely something children look forward to with excitement.

To make the Tanabata mood even livelier, let’s sing Tanabata songs with hand-play motions.

The choreography includes gestures that express sparkling stars and hand movements that represent the Milky Way, so children can enjoy doing hand-play while singing.

Singing together makes the Tanabata feeling even stronger.

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Panel theater

[Tanabata] Panel Theater: The Story of Tanabata

Panel theater

How about introducing the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi with a panel theater? A panel theater, performed on a board covered with special panel fabric, captures children’s interest just like picture-story shows or puppet plays.

In a panel theater, you place and remove character and object pieces on the panel according to the flow of the story.

When telling the Tanabata tale, prepare pieces for Orihime and Hikoboshi, of course, as well as the Milky Way, Hikoboshi’s cow, stars, and more.

By sticking on and taking off the pieces, the scenes change clearly, making it easier for children to understand the story of Tanabata.

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Black Panel Theater

The Tale of Tanabata (Fairy Tale) Black Theater

Black Panel Theater

A black panel theater that you can enjoy in a darkened room, almost like watching a movie.

Black panel theater is a performance in which illustrations drawn with fluorescent art materials are moved across a board covered with black fabric to tell a story.

Simply darkening the room isn’t enough to make the fluorescent drawings clearly visible, so the board is illuminated with a black light during the narration.

Because it’s viewed in the dark, it’s perfect for a Tanabata story featuring stars.

The stars and the Milky Way, drawn with fluorescent materials on the black board, look beautiful—so be sure to give it a try!

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paper puppet theater

Tanabata Paper Puppet Show for Preschools: Fun for Parents and Children, Chosen by Kids!

paper puppet theater

Let’s use paper theater puppets (peep-sart) to help children learn about the Tanabata story! A paper theater puppet is a paper-made figure that you move like in a puppet show to tell a story.

One of its charms is that you can attach a stick and give the puppet different expressions on each side—like a smiling face on the front and an angry face on the back.

Because the story unfolds as you move the puppets, it keeps children engaged.

You can present it puppet-show style, bringing the puppets up from beneath a large table, or you can create a backdrop and perform in front of it.

It’s a perfect activity for letting children experience the Tanabata story in a clear and enjoyable way.

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Picture Book ‘The Tanabata Story’

Picture book read-aloud for older preschoolers: “Tanabata Story.” Bedtime picture book for kids, at-home time, helping children fall asleep, read-aloud picture book, narration, nap time, sleep introduction

Picture Book 'The Tanabata Story'

Let’s try telling children the story of Tanabata using the picture book “Tanabata Monogatari.” Even if some children know that Tanabata is linked to the tale of Orihime and Hikoboshi, it can be hard to picture the story just by listening.

By using a picture book and showing the illustrations as you tell the tale, children can gain a better understanding of Tanabata.

After reading, it’s also recommended to set aside time to think together by asking questions such as what they thought about Orihime’s and Hikoboshi’s actions, and whether they have someone very important to them like Orihime and Hikoboshi do.

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handbell

Tsukuba City Comprehensive Child-Rearing Support Center Handbells “Tanabata-sama” and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” — Center Version

handbell

How about giving a sparkling, delightful handbell performance, like stars shining in the Tanabata night sky? Recommended pieces include Tanabata-sama, which sings of the Tanabata scene, as well as When You Wish Upon a Star and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, which are songs about the stars.

Assign about 2–4 bells per person and give it a try.

Rather than swinging your wrist vigorously, one tip is to move as if gently tapping with a light, crisp motion.

You can also produce a continuous, shimmering sound by gently rocking the bell, so try incorporating that at the end of a piece and other fitting moments.

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[Childcare] Recommended for Tanabata events! Fun and exciting performance/activity ideas (21–30)

Magic Show

[Magic] Liven Up Birthday Parties! 3 Easy Tricks for Preschool/Kindergarten

Magic Show

Let’s liven up the Tanabata party by performing magic that will amaze the kids! Rather than forcing yourself to tackle something complex and difficult, it’s better to choose simple tricks that capture their interest.

For example, just using items the children are familiar with, toys they like, or colorful props will draw their attention.

And when something is about to change, have everyone chant together—like, “Let’s cast a spell together!”—so it feels like you’re doing the magic with them; that makes it even more fun.

You could also use Orihime, Hikoboshi, or star-themed props to match the Tanabata theme!

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